Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams pictured outside the party's HQ on the Falls Road in January 1984. Photograph: Pacemaker

Gerry Adams and family, 1992. Photograph: Pacemaker

Ms Evelyn Glenholmes, after being released for the second time by the District Court in Dublin in 1986 with supporters including Mr Martin McGuinness (front left), Mr Gerry Adams (rear centre) and Mr Danny Morrison (rear right), of Sinn Fein. Photograph: Pat Langan / The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams (left), with the other main speakers at a march in 1989, Mr George Galloway, MP; Mr Neil Blaney, TD, and Mr Nicky Kelly. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh / The Irish Times

Among those who part icipated in the Free Nicky Kelly march to the GPO in 1986 were (from left) Mr
Gerry Adams, vice-president of Sinn Fein and candidate in the British General Election; Mrs Bernadette McAliskey, the former Westminister MP, and Mr Thomas Hartley, a member of Sinn
Fein from Belfast. Photograph: Pat Langan / The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams addressing the opening session of the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation at Dublin Castle in 1994. Photograph: Frank Miller/ The Irish Times

The SDLP leader Mr Hume and the Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams in a televison studio at the referendum count in the King's Hall, Belfast, 1994. Photograph: Frank Miller / The Irish Times

An Taoiseach Albert Reynolds shakes hands with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and SDLP leader John Hume outside Government Buildings after a discussion on ways to advance the peace process following the IRA's ceasefire announcement of August 31st, 1994. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh / The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams before speaking to reporters at the Sinn Fein offices in Dublin in 1996. Photograph: Frank Miller / The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams and former Education Minister Mr Martin McGuinness while watching a march in Belfast to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Hunger Strikes in 2000. Photograph: Frank Miller/ The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams arriving with some of their new TDs at at the first sitting of the new Dail in Leinster House in Dublin in 2000. Photograph: Frank Miller / The Irish Times

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams at a Sinn Fein Elected Representatives Conference in Monagan. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times

The SDLP leader Mr John Hume, the Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern and the Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams during their press conference at Goverment Buildings in 1997. Photograph: Frank Miller / The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams leaving Scoil Iosagain, Crumlin, after a meeting with local community groups in 1997. Mr Adams was accompanied by the party's representative for Dublin South Central, Martina Kenna,left, during a visit to the Crumlin area. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh / the Irish Times

Sinn Fein leader Mr Gerry Adams (right) in the Mater Hospital yesterday to visit Mr Larry O Toole who was shot in 1998 in St Josephs Church Ballymun during a First Holy Communion ceremony. Photograph: David Sleator / The Irish Times

The veteran Republican Mr Joe Cahill is congratulated by the Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams after his appointment as honorary party vice president at the Sinn Fein ard fheis in the RDS in 1999. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh / The Irish Times

Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds with SF president Gerry Adams, guest speaker, along with Institute president Paddy Galvin at the Institute of Directors Lunch in Dublin in 1998. Photograph: Joe St Leger / The Irish Times

A television monitor showing live pictures from the address by the Sinn Fein president Mr. Gerry Adams, at a Sinn Fein Ard Fheis, in the RDS. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times

The Taoiseach Mr Ahern with the Sinn Fein chief negotiator Mr Martin McGuinness and the Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams following early morning talks in the Taoiseach's constituency office in Drumcondra, Dublin in 2004. Photograph: Frank Miller / The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein president Mr Gerry Adams and the party by-election candidate for Co Meath Cllr Joe Reilly engage local youths in a snowball fight after Cllr Reilly submitted his nomination papers at Trim Courthouse in 2005. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh / The Irish Times

Mr Gerry Adams, President of Sinn Fein addressing supporters marking the 100th anniversary of the party at the City West Hotel in 2005. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times

Gerry Adams president of Sinn Fein speaking to the media following the Ard Chomhairle meeting on policing at the Dulin Airport Hotel in 2006. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / The Irish Times

The Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams voting on the motion on policing , at the special Ard Fheis, at the RDS, in Dublin, in 2007. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times

Democratic Unionist Party leader The Reverend Ian Paisley (left) and Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams speak to the media during a press conference at the Stormont Assembly building in Belfast. Photograph: Pacemaker

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams has make-up applied for a television interview, at the Dublin City Count and European Count, at the RDS Ballsbridge, 2014. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times

Gerry Adams Sinn Fein , 2015. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times

Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness at the Sinn Fein launch of their 1916 Commemoration Plans at Whites Hotel off Dublin's O'Connell Street, 2016. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times

Marylou McDonald and Gerry Adams photographed on Fifth Avenue outside St Patrick's Cathedral , New York for the St Patrick's Day Parade in 2016. Photograph: Simon Carswell / The Irish Times

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams TD photographed at the Dublin Wax Museum with his face in a cast for a wax model that will be part of the 'Good Friday Agreement' installation at the Dublin Wax museum, 2016. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons / The Irish Times

Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, Retired Archbishop of Armagh Cardinal Sean Brady with Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams photographed at the Holy Trinity Church Ratoath where they attended the funeral of Dermot Gallagher former secretary general at the Department of Foreign Affairs, 2017. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons /The Irish Times